Automatically operated farm gate



C. LUSH.

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED FARM GATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 3 I918.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

W. mm N EL HUD-H M Fli lfilii CHARLE$ LUSH, OF LQNDON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

AUToMArIcaL -oPEnarnn FARM-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PELtGHlEtl- Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed September 3, 1918. Serial No. 252,475.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CIIARLESL'USH, of the city of London,-in the county of h liddlesex, in the Province of Ontario, Canada; have in vented certain new and useful improve ments in r-lu-tomatically Operated Farnr Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatically operated farm gates and the obj ect of the invention is todevisea simple operating mechanisn'i-tor carrying the upper and lower hi nge connections out of alinement to allow the gate to swingto either the open or closed position and sucha device may be applied toany iron gateandbe easily adjusted totakeup sag of eitherof the posts-'as-hereinafter more particularly explained by the following specification.

Figure 1, is n general perspective vievv'of my gate shown "in the closed position -the operating cords being broke ir away interinediately of their len, ,"th

Fig. 2, is a vertical section through the major portion of the operating mechanism.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged perspective detail of those-parts of the operatingtnechanismshown in Fig.2.

Fig. A l, is a perspective detail ot the latch? Fig. 5, is a perspective" detail of the latch pini Fig. 6 is a sectional-planview of tll61116 3l1- anisin. for locking the gate in the open position.

F 7, is a sectional plan of the meansion limiting the swinging movement of the gate when the upper hinge is carriedout of aline ment with the lowerhinge Fig. 8, is a sectionaliview through thelower hinge connection;

Fig. 9, islan enlarged sectional detail'ofi one of the locking.members'shown in Fig 6.

in the drawings like charactcrs ot reference indicate corresponding: parts in the various figures.

1 indicates a gate and 2 and 3 the ga'te posts. t indicatesthe gateisupporting bar which is adjustablyv connected to-the gate post 2 by means otthe bolts ttand t. These bolts are substantially the :samman enlarged vie r being shown .in alligl l The bolts d l' and i are secured to. the gatelpost .by means of nuts and 4 bearing against :the oppol sitci'aces of-the' posts and to-sthe bar a by nuts 1-1 andd u Theilowerend :of the-ibartd i is provided with an enlargement i having a horizontal slot 4-. through which the lower bolt t extends. The upper bolt 4 extends through the upper portion of the bar 4, the barheing swung thereon. The upper end of the bar -1 is provided with an extension 4: which is offset toward the post 2 and carries upon itsupperend a casing 5. This casing 5 is provided so that the mechanism contained therein will be unaffected by frost in winter time. l Vithin thecasing 5'is secured air arc-shaped plate 6 having a face gear 6, thej-teethi oi the gear being only at each end, the center; portion 6 and end portion 6 being plain, that as, without teeth.

fl indicates a rectangular boss extending inwardly toward the gate from the upper end of the harsh The upper end of the boss is provided withfan orifice i 7 indicates a shaft journaled at its lower end in the orifice i and provided at its upper end with ahorizontally turned portion 7 'which extends over the taco, gear 6. Upon the horizontal portion 7* is swung a dog 8 which normally hangs vertically and which when brought into engagement with the teeth 6", is swung inone direction and when brought into engagement with the teeth swung in the opposite direction so as to remain in aninclined position in engagement with the teethtfl lVhen the dog is carried past the teeth over the portion 6 it again swings to the vertical position by force of gravity.

9 indicates a bevelpinion secured to the shaft *7. 7"indicates an arm extending from the shaft 7 belowthe gear 9, thebuter end oi the arin. 7 being provided with a depending portion 7 2 forming theupper hinge pin. of the gate: 10 indicates the upper hingemember of the gate whichis formed intwo portions 10*"and 10 which clamp around the vertical. bar 1 of the gate 1, the portions 10 and lfl forininga receiving orifice for the hingeaiiii'i 'l From the portions 10 and extend llllgSdO and 10 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

11 indicates a bossextending from the bar 4; iirproxiinity to its lower end,the'bossl1 beingprovidcd with a socketll. 12 indi cates thelower hinge member-also secured to. thdbar' 1 ofthe gate 1, being suitably clamped thereto, the arm 12 01? the member being provided with a depending portion 19" having a ball end 12 fitting within the sockethll". By this means the lower end of gagedwith the teeth 6 the gate is supported to swing either to one side or the other so that the upper hinge pin may be carried laterally out of alinement with the lower hinge connection.

13 indicates a stud extending outwardly from the casing 5. let indicates a bevel gear mounted upon the stud 13 in mesh with the pinion 9. 1 1 indicates an arm secured to the gear 14 and extending normally in a Vertical position upwardly from the gear. 15 and 16 indicate posts which are located on th road side in alinement with the gate post 2 and some considerable distance therefrom. 15 and 16 indicate pulleys carried by the posts 15 and 16 in proximity to their upper ends. 17 and 18 indicate cords connected at their'inner ends to the arm let and extending at their outer ends over the pulleys 15 and 16*. The portions of the cords 17 and 18 depending from the pulleys 15 and 16* are provided with weighted pull handles 19 and 20.

As the driver of the vehicle passes along the road in the direction of arrow approaching the gate and wishing to pass through the gateway he pulls upon the pull handle 19 swinging the arm 14* in the direction of arrow and thereby turning the shaft 7 in the direction of arrow carrying the hinge pin 7 around the center formed by the shaft 7 and into the position indicated in Fig- 7, this movement being limited by the lug 105 engaging the face of the rectangular boss 4 in proximity to one edge thereof. By this movement the opposite end of the gate is carried upward so that the latch pin thereof hereinafter described will be carried free of the latch allowing the gate to swing to the open position. As the gate swings to the open position the arm 7 carrying the hinge pin 7' and the lower hinge 1 automatically realine themselves as the gate approaches the open position, the gate being locked in the open position by mechanism wliich I will hereinafter describe.

As the cord 17 is pulled as above described and the shaft 7 turned the dog 8 carried by the upper end of the shaft is swung in a position to engage with the teeth 6 thereby holding the mechanism in the position to which it is moved and overcoming the necessity of the operator keeping hold of the rope after it has once been pulled far enough. By this means as soon as the cord has been pulled so as to cause the dog 8 to engage the teeth 6 the gate will automatically swing open enabling the driver to drive on while the gate swings to the open position. It will be understood that the latch pin is not carried free of the latch until the dog has en- If the latch pin were carried free of the latch before the dog would engage the catch would start to open before the dog caught and under these conditions the gate might not swing to the full open position when the operator had released the cord 17. As soon, however, as the dog catches with the teeth and is locked the gate starts to open insuring that it opens to the full extent to enable the driver to pass through. As the gate hinges realine themselves as the gate arrives at the swung position the dog 8 is given a further circumferential movement carrying it past the teeth 6 and allowing it to swing to a free vertical position ready for movement in the opposite direction.

As before stated the swinging movement of the gate is limited by the lug 1O engaging the boss 4 thereby preventing any danger of the operator pulling the cord 17 too far. When the driver has passed through the gate and reaches the post 16 he pulls upon the pull handle 20 thereby reversing the swinging movement of the shaft 7 so as to carry the upper hinge pin in the opposite direction and cause the gate to swing to the closed position, the swinging movement of the gate at the upper hinge pin being also limited by the lug 10 engaging the adjacent side face of the boss 4;. It will, of course, be understood that when the driver is passing in the opposite direction when the gate is opened the lug 10* will engage the front face of the boss 4 and when the gate is being closed the lug 10 engages the corresponding side face of the boss 1 thereby also limiting the swinging movement when the driver is driving in the opposite direction- In order to prevent the upward swing of the gate as it comes to the closed position caused by the driver accidentally pulling the rope too far just before the gate closes to cause the gate to lift over the latch or cause the dog 8 to reengage with the teeth I ha \e provided a vertical rib 41- extending from the outer face of the boss 4;.

I will now describe my latch and latch pin co-acting with the mechanism hereinbefore described.

21 indicates a plate preferably shield shape. The plate 21 is secured to the post 3 by means of bolts 21 and 21, these bolts extending through the gate posts and being secured by nuts in a similar way to that employed for securing the bar 4 to the gate post 2. By this means either the upper or lower portion of the plate may be adjusted to or from the gate post so as to realine the plate vertically should the gate post 3 sag out of the vertical. 7

22 and 23 indicate pins extending from the plate 21 in proximity to each side thereof. 2a indicates a plate extending outwardly from the main plate 21 in proximity to the bottom thereof. 25 and 26 indicate swinging catches each comprising a vertical portion 26 and an inwardly inclined portion 26, which rests at its lower edge upon the plate 24; in proximity to the center thereof.

ean-sea a Theinner face of each, vertioalportion 26* is provided with notches26 -which are graduated in length.

Although I have only; show-n two of these notches it will, of course, be understood that any 111l1lll3el",l1'llgllh be employed.

27 indicates a vertical plate also extending fromthemain plate21 centrallythereof for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 28 indicates my latch pin, which is formed inverted channel shapeso astoengag with the notches 26 when theilatch pin is raised. The inner end of thelatch pinQS? is provided with a semi-circulan clamping portion 28 provided with. lugs 2.8 28 indicates a correspondingly formed portion provided with corresponding. lugs adaptedluto be secured to the lugs 28 and portions 28 and 28 extending around the vertical barl of the gate 1 so as 'tOl be clamped thereto. By this means the latch .pin may be adjusted vertically to any desired position upon the gate.

1 will now describe the mechanism by which the gate is locked in the open position. The lower endof the bar a is provided with an extension L 28 indicates a bar, which is secured to the extension P and extending at right anglestosthe normal position of the gate beneath the level of the lower. bar of thegate. Each end of the bar 281s providedwith lugs 28 extending inwardly toward the gate between which a latching piece 28 is swung upon a pin 28 the latclr 'ig piece being provided with a normally vertically extending portiondZS and a horizontally extending portion28 The swinging movement of the latch piece 28 is limited by the pins 28 and 28. 28 indicates a lug extending outwardly from the opposite side of the bar 28 and provided with an upwardly inclined upper edge 28 l/Vhen the cord 17 is pulled as above described to open the gate and prior to the gate swinging to the open position the latch pin 28 is carried upward between the vertical plate 27 and the swinging catch 26 until it is carried clear of the top of such catch. Should, however, the cord be released before the latch pin arrives at the top of the swinging catch 26 the channeled lower face of the pin will mag-age with one of the notches 26 and prevent its return. By a further pull upon the cord 17 the pin is carried over the top of the swinging catch and. the gate swings to the open. position. As it arrives at the open position the lower bar of the gate engages the upwardly projecting portion. 28 of the swinging catch 28' swinglng the catch over so as to engage with the pin 28 which limits its movement. The lower bar of the gate passes over this catch which then drops by gravity to its normal position and then engages the inclined edge 28 of the lug 28 riding upwardly thereon thereby tending to elevate the .gatebodily and thereby take up the .j an, whichwill be consequent: to the gate being. suddenly stopped as it arrives at the open position.. Whenthe cord 18 is pulled in order to close the gate as has been before described the gate is tilted in the usualmanner bv carrying the hinge connections out of alinementUBy 'suchtilting. movement the lower harol? the gate is carried over the top of the upwardly projecting portion 3 of the catch 28 enabling it to swing to the closed position. r'rsthegate arrives at the closed position the hingepin passes between the horizontal plate 2% and the swinging catch 26, the swinging catch being lifted by the latch pinqengaging. the outer face of the lower inclined portion of the swinging catch 2G.- As thelatch pin passes the end of this swinging catch the swinging catch drops again on tothe plate/2i, the pin-then engaging the upwardly inclined surface forming the inner face oi the catch 25 riding upward thereon and thereby taking up the Jar.

In order to prevent the gatebeing lifted over the latch by hand in the wrong direction when the dog caught 1: have provided the plateP/T hereinbelore described extending from the main plate 21 of the latch. By this means it will be readily seen that when thevgate is operated to open in either one direction or the other the latch pin. will be moved in the latch to the corresponding side oi the latch and against the corresponding member 25 or 26 and is then lifted so that it anybody should attempt to then lift the gate and force it in the wrong direction the latch pin willdcontact with the vertical plate 27 preventing its movement over to the other side oi? the latchl and over the wrong side thereof.

In order to stili'en the bar 28 I have provided an angle bariiO, the .eudsol which are secured to the bai-28 in proniinity to each end thereof, the center or arched portion of the angle bar 30 passing around to the opposite or outer side of the post 2, the bolt 4: passing through this center portion thereby holding the bar 28 rigidly in position.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple form of operating mechanism for gates which are automatically operated to open and close by means of the upper and lower hinge connections being carried out of alinen'ient and in which simple means are provided for adj ust'- ing the gate support and latch support so as to compensate for any sag in either one of the gate posts and providing a device which may he readily attached to any form of iron gate and easily adjusted to the desired position.

It will be understood that the gate does not leave the latch simultaneously with the dog, the gate catching in the teeth 6 but leaves the latch when the movement is carried, a little farther that is to say, at the ill!) same time the projections 10* and 10 of the upper hinge strike the corresponding face of the boss 4 This action applies both to the opening and closing operation of the gate.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a farm gate, the combination with the gate post and lower hinge of the gate, of a vertically turnable shaft having an arm intermediately of its length carrying the upper hinge pin and having an oppositely turned upper end, means for rotating the shaft from a distance, and means co-acting with the turned upper end for holding the shaft in the turned position.

in a farm gate, the combination with the gate post and gate and the lower hinge of the gate, of a vertical turnable shaft carried by the gate post having a horizontally turned upper end, a swinging dog carried by the horizontally turned end of the shaft and having a lateral tooth-engaging project-ion having a double engaging edge, a coacting are-shaped member carried by the post, and having face-gear sections at each end, an intermediate gearless portion adapted to receive the dog and allow it to hang freely in the intermediate position, an arm extending from the turnable shaft, a hinge connection between the end of the arm and the gate, and means operated remote from the gate for turning the shaft to carry the gate hinge connections out of vertical alinement.

3. In a farm gate, the combination with the gate post and gate and the lower hinge of the gate, of a vertical turnable shaft carried by the gate post, an arm extending therefrom, a hinge connection between the end of the arm and the gate, a rectangular boss located in a stationary position and forming a bearing for the lower end of the turnable shaft, lugs extending laterally from the hinge connection adapted to engage the front face of the rectangular boss when the gate is operated to open and the side face of the post when the gate is operated to close.

4. In a farm gate, the combination with the gate post and gate, of a bar having a cross slot at one end, a hinge connection between each end of the bar and the gate, means for pivotally mounting one end of the bar upon the gate post, a bolt extending through the slot of the bar into the gate post, and nuts co-acting with the bolt to secure th bar inthe adjusted position.

In a farm gate, the combination with the gate post and gate, of a bar spaced apart from the gate post, a hinge connection between the bar and the gate, bolts extending through the ends of the bar and the gate post, and nuts on each bolt at each side of the bar and at each side of the gate post.

6. In a farm gate, the combination with the gate post and supportingmemberspaced from the gate post, a gate and a hinge connection between the gate and the supporting member, of a bar extending at right angles to the gate and carried by the aforesaid supporting member, latch devices carried by the end of the bar adapted to secure the gate in the open position, a bracing .bar connected at each end of the right angular bar and extending around the gate post, a bolt extending through the hinge support, gate post and bracing bar, and nuts located on the bolt at each side of the support and at each side of the gate post at the inside of the gate post and at each side of the bracing bracket.

CHARLES LUSH. lVitnesses LILLIAN A. D. RICHARDS, S. THORNE. 

